Super Mario (film series)

The SUPER Mario video game series, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo, has been adapted into four feature films since its debut. The first film, Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986), was released in Japanese theaters and marked the first feature film based on a video game. The second film, Super Mario Bros (1993), a live-action adaptation of the series, was released to poor critical and box office reception. A second animated film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) was a major box office success and marked Nintendo's return to theatrical films after decades, and spawned a sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026), resulting in the franchise becoming the highest grossing film franchise based on a video game, with reports suggesting that additional spin-off films are in development.

Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986)

Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! was released on July 20, 1986, in Japan. It is directed by Masami Hata and written by Hideo Takayashiki.

The plot centers on Mario and Luigi, who go on a quest to save Princess Peach from King Koopa.

The film was one of the two first films based on a video game, along with , released on the same day. It is the earliest isekai anime to involve a virtual video game world.

Super Mario Bros. (1993)

Super Mario Bros. was released on May 28, 1993, in the United States. It was directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel from a screenplay by Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon.

The film follows the brothers Mario and Luigi in their quest to rescue Princess Daisy from a dystopian parallel universe ruled by the ruthless President Koopa. The production used several techniques considered innovative in the transition from practical to digital visual effects, including the use of Autodesk Flame.

The film was a financial failure, grossing worldwide on a budget of . It received generally negative reviews from critics and is considered one of the worst films ever made, though it has developed a cult following.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released theatrically on April 5, 2023, in the United States. It was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.

The film follows Mario and Luigi, two plumbers from Brooklyn, who are transported into the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario teams up with Princess Peach and other allies to stop Bowser from taking over the realm. The movie combines action, comedy, and references to the video games' extensive history.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was well received by audiences. It grossed over $1.36 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game and the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2023.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

In April 2023, Nintendo and Illumination announced that a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie was in development. The sequel is scheduled to be released on April 1, 2026. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are expected to return, along with screenwriter Matthew Fogel. Cast members such as Pratt and Taylor-Joy reprised their roles.

Future

In May 2021, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said that Nintendo was interested in producing more animated films based on its intellectual properties if the then-untitled Mario film was successful.

Nintendo and Universal filed copyright information for an untitled Donkey Kong film in May 2025.

In March 2026, Jack Black accidentally said that the third Mario movie could come out in 2029.

Cast and characters

Box office

The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $574.9million in the United States and Canada, and $785.9million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.361billion. It also became the first film based on a video game to gross $1 billion worldwide.

As of March 31, 2026, the second film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expected to top its predecessor's opening weekend, with a $160 million+ 5-day domestic opening and $350+ million 5-day worldwide opening.

Critical response

The series has generally received mixed reviews from critics.

Accolades

See also

• List of highest-grossing animated films
• List of films based on video games

External links

• Official website
• Illumination
• Nintendo